Watthour meter



- UNITED STA Patented Sept. 14928.

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AEGYLE E. EUTTEE, 0E roieE'sTY HILLS, rENNsYLvANIa,V As'sIeNoEToy WEsTING- i HOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING CoMEANx, A CQRPCEATICN OF'PENNSYL- venia.

WATTHOUR METER.

` Application med November 1.9, 192e., serial 1re-149,319;

invention relates to electrical measuring instruments and particularly to watthour meters of the induction type.

My invention has for anobject to provide -an induction meter that will operate correctly at light loads. r

Another 'object of my invention to provide means for avoiding short-'circuit currents in the framework otanl induction A further object of my invention is to provide an induction meter that shall be eifective in operation, cheapto manufacture and simple in construction.

Induction meters, having metal covers secured by rods thatpass through the laminat-ed electromagnetic core to .thereby vtasten the same to the base, operate inaccurately at light load-s. The causefof such inaccuracy arises by virtue of the fact that a current path, formed by the rseries-circuit relation of the structural members, is circ-umscribedby a flux path in a material Yof Ahigh permeability through which the alternating iiux passes that actuates the disc. A transformer raction takes. place between the closed'current conductingpat-h and the circumscribing alternating flux. Since the resistance of the current path-is relatively low, a'heavy vcurrent is induced therein, thereby decreasing the eHiciency of the meter greatly at light loads. A loss of venergy takes place at all loads but such loss of energyis particularlyA noticable at light loads. e

In practicing invention,. I provider means for substantially obviating such inaccuracy at light loads by decreasing the permeabilitv oftheV mediuml of the flux path surrounding the closed-current conducting path.

My invention will be better understood bv reference to the accompanying drawings taken in connection with the following description. e

In the drawings, v

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a lamina tion of an electromagnetic core of an induction meter, and

Fig. 2 is a. view, partially in section and partially in elevation, of several elements of an induction meter.

In Fig. 2, a cover 1 is secured to a base plate 2 by Vrods 3 and 4. An electromagnetic core 5, consisting of a plurality of laminations,

is provided with holes v6 and 7 through which the vrods 3 and 4 extend. The rods support the electromagnetic core 5 in a relatively 'fixed position with respect to the cover 1l and the base plate 2. y f Y .i

vThe base plate 2 is mounted on a base 7V andl suitably secured thereto.

The outer rends of the'rod-s 3 and 4 yare `threaded to receivewing-nuts 8 and 9, by

means of which the vcoverf 1 is firmly held in place againstthe baseplate 2. l The rods 3'y and 4 are provided with projections 10 andll that cooperate with nuts l 12and 13 to; secure thecore 5 to the plate 2. The laminations of the core 5are provided withv slots 14 and 15 between the holes 6 and I and the periphery 16, as shown in Fig. 1. l -In Fig. 1, the dotted lines 18 represent the path of the major portion of the flux ema` nating from the voltage element, and lines 19 reprejsent the path of the majorl portion of `the vflux emanating from the current element. In VFig.k 2, itmay be seen that a .substantially closed-Currentcircuit" is established by the series-circuitrelation of the Arod 3, the cover 1 and the plate 2, and that a similar current circuit is established bv the rod 4, they cover- 1 and theplate 2. Heretofore, the. flux paths V18 and'19 embraced that portion of the core about theholes, and the path of least Vreluc? tance through those portions transmitted thev "major part of the flux. The closed circuits,

including the rods 3 and 4, respectively, were, therefore, energized by an alternating flux that induced currents in-the closed circuits established by the rods, the coverL and the base plate. x

The slots 14 and 15 increase the reluctance of the flux paths around' the outer sides of the rods'3 and 4 and thereby force the alternating flux to 'take the paths on the inside of the rods, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig.

1. The induction of currents in the closedcircuit paths are, in this manner, substantialfly obviated.

.The obviation of such short-circuit currents increase-s the efliciency ofthe meter materially at light loads; Such uselessly expended lenergy influences the armature ,or disc of the meter, and is a determining facaccuracy yof the meter at light tor in the` loads.

A distinct advantageof my inventwn lies .ducting in the simplicity thereof. By merely removing a section ofthe electromagnetic core, the accuracy of the induction inet-er at light loads is greatly increased. The `'shape of the core laminations may be variously modied to obtain such advantageous operation Without departingirom the spi-rit and scope of Vmy invention, as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention: f 1. The combination with a group of magnetizable members and means for establishing a fluctuating magnetic ield along al path included iii said magnetizable members, of a closed-circuit electricity-conducting path inductively associated with said inagnetizable members, and means 'for reducing the current induced by said magnetic tield in said closedcircuit path to a negligible quantity. v v

r2. In combinatioin a magnetizable core having apei'ipheral portion traversed `by an 'alternating flux, `a 'supporting structure for said coi'e compi'i'singla closed velectric conpath, an element otsaid structure passing' through said peripheral portion in the path of said flux, andmeans including an air gap in said peripheral portionffor decreasing. the magnitude of the flux that induces current in the said structure.

` 3." An electrical `measuring instrument comprising a magnetizable core having a peripheral poitien traversed byl an alternating flux, a 'supporting structure yfor i said core including-a 'closed electrical current conducting path linked by a portion of said 'luX, and means including a medium of high reluctance inthe peripheral portion of said core for decreasing the magnitude of said linking u'x. v y i' i ln a meter, the combination with ay base, a magnetizable core traversed by an alternating flux, a cover, and means comprising roos extending through said core for holding the base, core and cover in assembled relation,

said rods, base and cover forming a closed electrical current conducting path, of means for decreasing the magnitude of thel current induced in said path comprising an air gap in that portion of said core traversed by the flux inducing said current;

5. In a meter, the combination with a mag'- netizable core having an alternating flux therein, an electric current conducting path linked by a portion of said flux comprising a rod extending through said core, and a cover and a base heldin assembled relation by said iiux.

rod, of means torreducingthe magnitude vof said linking flux comprising a medium-ot'V high reluctance in thepathfof `said linking 6. ln combinationin a meteiga inagnetiaable core, means for producing an alternating ilux in said core, and a current path comprisiiig a cover and supporting structure, the

alternating flux in said core linking said path, of means for reducing ythe magnitude of the current induced in said path by said M fiuX.

7. In. an electrical measuring instrument',

the combination with a core traversed by an alternating flux, and a supporting structure for said core including a closedv electric cui'- rent path linked by said-flux, of means for decreasing the current induced in said structure by said linx comprising a core opening in theipatli of said flux.

8. The method .of decreasing induced cur-` Anorrin n. nurrnii.

hereunto 

